Retainer for draft key of railway car like coupling

ABSTRACT

A retainer for preventing inadvertent withdrawal of the draft key from its position in the coupling of a railway car or the like. The retainer includes two separable yokes which when mated one with the other define a pin means and a wear and bearing surface which hold the key against withdrawal. The two yokes are formed so as to mutually interlock and secure themselves against removal from their position with respect to the key and to cooperatively develop the features of the retainer.

United States Patent n 1 Norman, Jr.

[ 51 Feb. 27, 1973 RETAINER FOR DRAFT KEY OF RAILWAY CAR LIKE COUPLING [76] Inventor: William A. Norman, Jr., l705 River Shores Drive, Knoxville, Tenn. 37914 [22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 191,999

52 U.S.Cl ..213/so.s, 85/8.6 s1 1nt.Cl. ..B6lg 7/14, B61g 9/00 58 Field of Search ..213/50.5;85/8.1,8.6, 8.9,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1926 Nilson ..213/50.5 12/1927 Dawson ..85/8.9

2,593,790 4/1952 Pietzsch ..213/50.5 2,801,564 8/1957 Blattner 3,494,481 2/1970 Smith ..2l3/50.5

Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Att0meyFitch, Even, Tabin & Luedeka [57] ABSTRACT A retainer for preventing inadvertent withdrawal of the draft key from its position in the coupling of a railway car or the like. The retainer includes two separable yokes which when mated one with the other define a pin means and a wear and bearing surface which hold the key against withdrawal. The two yokes are formed so as to mutually interlock and secure themselves against removal from their position with respect to the key and to cooperatively develop the features of the retainer.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENT FEB27I975 SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTEB FEBZ'HQH $718,264 SHEET 4 UF 4 RETAINER FOR DRAFT KEY OF RAILWAY CAR LIKE COUPLING This invention relates to a retainer for the draft key of a railroad car coupling.

Railroad cars are coupled one to another in series to make up a train. In the usual coupling for such cars, there is provided a drawbar having one of its ends exposed to releasably engage a mating drawbar of a preceding or succeeding car. The other end of the drawbar is anchored to the car, usually by means of a somewhat flat elongated draft key which extends transversely of the longitudinal direction of the car, through openings or slots in the car frame, such as slots in a draft sill, and through an opening in the inward end of the drawbar. To accommodate articulation'between coupled cars, the draft key commonly is oversize in length and is fitted in slots in the sill so that the ends of the key can have room to move by a small amount when subjected to a torque force exerted on it by the drawbar as the coupled cars move out of alignment.

Due to the relatively severe forces experienced by the draft key and the importance of it remaining in position, the means employed to keep the key in its position, that is the draft key retainer, must be strong, resistant to wear, and securely positioned against inadvertent dislodging by the usual jolting, bumping and other similar treatment accompanying a train, especially during the coupling operations. The draft key retainer also desirably is easily applied and removed for maintenance and repair purposes.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a draft key retainer of good strength and which is easily installed and removed as desired. It is a further object to provide a retainer which exhibits good resistance to wear or failure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known by references to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary top view, part in section, of a draft key installation including the disclosed retainer;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear end view, part in section, of the draft key installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the disclosed retainer and a draft key showing various features of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the retainer and draft key of FIG. 3 and showing the reverse side of the retainer;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the disclosed retainer assembled with a draft key; and,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 ofFIG. 7.

As illustrated, the draft key, which secured a drawbar to a railroad car, is releasably secured in place at one end by a retainer comprising two yokes each of which includes portions adapted to mate with portions of the other so that the retainer may be readily affixed in position and when assembled with the draft key, locks itself against removal. In accordance with one feature of the invention, the two mating yokes of the retainer include wing portions which, when mated as disclosed, encircle the draft key and bear against a draft sill or other frame member through which the draft key is passed, to afford a substantial bearing and wearing surface for the retainer in contact with the sill. In addition to its self-locking feature, the present retainer is provided with additional locking means designed to prevent disengagement of the yokes.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a railroad car drawbar 10 disposed between the vertical side walls 12 and 14 of a railroad car draft sill 16 or the like. The drawbar is anchored at one of its ends 18 to the sill 16 by means of a draft key 20 which is inserted through a slot 22 in the sill side wall 12, thence through a slot 24 in the end 18 of the drawbar l0 thence through a slot 26 in the sill side wall 14 to thereby extend transversely of the sill and car and generally normally of the direction of pull on the drawbar 10.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the draft key 20 is secured at one of its ends 28 against withdrawal from its position in the sill slots by a retainer 30 comprising two yokes, designated generally as a top yoke 32 and a bottom yoke 34, having mating portions such that when the, two yokes are fitted together they define pin means 36 (FIG. 7) adapted to be received in an opening 38 extending through the thickness of the draft key 20, and having wing portions adapted to encircle the draft key, stabilize the pin means, and bear against the outer surface 44 of the sill wall 14.

More specifically, the bottom yoke 34 of the retainer, shown in exploded view in FIG. 3, includes a base 46 having lateral extensions or wings 48 and 50 whose respective unattached ends 52 and 54 are upturned about a radius such that the ends 52 and 54 project generally vertically upwardly from their respective wings. The ends 52 and 54 each include a notch 56 and 58, each notch being defined by a first wall 60 extending inwardly at generally a right angle from an outer wall 62 of the wing 50, and a further wall 64 serving as an extension of the outer wall 62 to define a shoulder 66 on the upturned end. The upturned end 54 terminates in a flat surface 68 facing upwardly. As thus positioned, the shoulder 66 and flat surface 68 on each end 58 of the bottom yoke 34 is adapted to receive similar mating portions of the top yoke 32 as will appear more fully hereinafter. The other upturned end 56 of the bottom part is similarly notched and mates with a complementarily notched portion of the top yoke 32 of the retainer.

In a position approximately equidistant from the opposite upturned ends of the base 46 of the bottom yoke, there is provided an upstanding bottom pin portion 72 which is preferably integrally formed with the base so as to make the pin portion 72 strong and rigid with respect to the base 46. In cross section, the bottom pin portion 72, as depicted in FIG. 5, is convexo-convex to provide an outer rounded surface 74 which forms a portion of the outer cylindrical surface of pin means 36 when the top and bottom yokes are mated. The other and inner convex surface 76 of the bottom pin portion 72 is adapted to fit in a mating concave portion 78 of a top pin portion 80 depending from the top yoke.

As shown in the Figures, the bottom pin portion 72 of the bottom yoke 34 is adapted to be inserted upwardly into a circular opening 38 in the draft key 20,

the opening having an inner wall 84. The major axis of the convexo.convex cross section of the bottom pin portion 72 is chosen to be slightly less than the diameter of the opening 38. Further, the radius of curvature of the outer rounded surface 74 of the bottom pin portion 72 is chosen to be substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the opening 38 so that the outer surface 74 of the bottom pin portion will mate with a portion of the inner wall 84 of the opening and partly fill the opening.

The upper and unattached end 86 of the bottom pin portion 72 is provided with a lug extending normally from the longitudinal dimension of the bottom pin portion to define a ledge 88 whose lower surface 90 rests against the top surface 92 of the draft key adjacent the opening 38 in the key when the bottom yoke is fully in position with its pin portion inserted in the opening. When so positioned, as long as the outer surface 74 of the bottom pin portion 72 remains in good contact with the inner wall 84 of the opening in the key, the ledge 88 prevents withdrawal of this bottom yoke from its position in the opening.

The sides 94 and 96 of the ledge 88 converge toward each other in a direction normally from the bottom pin portion 72 by an amount sufficient to permit the ledge to pass through the key opening 38 as the bottom yoke is placed into position. These sides also converge toward each other in a direction upwardly from the bottom edges 78 and 79 of the ledge to facilitate mating of the top and bottom yokes.

Opposite the ledge 88, the top end 86 of the bottom pin portion 72 is cut away to form a shoulder 102 having a flat surface 104 which serves as a stop against which a mating ledge 106 on the top part of the retainer comes to rest when the two yokes are assembled.

The inner upper edge of the ledge 88 is extended upwardly past the ledge and bottom pin portion to define a bendable locking lug 108. The physical dimensions of the lug 108, especially its thickness, are chosen to permit it to be bent, preferably while heated. After the two yokes are assembled as seen in FIG. 7, the lug 108 is heated and bent to lock the retainer yokes against separation as will be further discussed.

The top yoke 32 of the retainer complements the bottom yoke. Referring to the Figures, the top yoke includes a base 40 including lateral extensions or wings 110 and 112 having downturned ends 114 and 116 which are directed generally at right angles to their respective wings 110 and l 12. Each downturned end is notched as at 118 and 120 in a manner similar to the upturned ends 52 and 54 of the bottom retainer yoke 34. The notches l 18 and 120 of the top yoke are each defined by a wall portion 122 extending at generally a right angle inwardly from an inner surface 124 of the wing 112, and a further wall 126 comprising an extension of the wing surface 124. The downwardly turned end of each wing terminates in a fiat surface 128. The notches 118 and 120 on the ends 114 and 116 of the upper yoke 32 are oriented inwardly of the assembled yokes as are the notches 56 and 58 on the upturned ends 52 and 54 of the bottom yoke, so that when the retainer is assembled, the flat surface 128 of each of the ends 114 and 116 contacts and bears against the respective shoulder 66 of the bottom notches 56 and 58. Further, the walls 122 and 126 of each of the upper notches contact and bear against the walls 68 and 64 of respective bottom notches. These mating notches thereby serve to preclude rotational motion of the bottom yoke with respect to the top yoke for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

The inner side wall 130 of the base 40 of the upper yoke is cut away at a position about halfway from either of the ends 114 and 1 16 to form a gap 132 for receiving the ledge 88 of the bottom retainer part when the yokes are assembled. The side walls 134 and 136 of the gap diverge from each other in a downward direction from the top edges 138 and 140 of the gap 132 to facilitate receipt of the upwardly converging walls 94 and 96 of the ledge and increase the ease with which the two yokes can be assembled.

The base 40 of the upper retainer yoke is provided with an upper pin portion 80 which extends downwardly in a direction normal to the base 40. A cross sectional view of the upper pin portion 80 is shown in FIG. 6. As depicted, this upper pin portion includes an outer rounded convex surface 142 and inner concave surface 78. As best seen in FIG. 4, the concave surface 78 extends from the lower end 143 of the upper pin section to a position below, but adjacent, the top surface of the base 40 of the upper yoke 32 and is adapted to receive the inner surface 76 of the bottom pin portion in mating relationship therewith. Notably, the relative sizes of the bottom and top pin portions are such that when the two portions are assembled in mating relation, in combination they define a preferred right cylindrical pin means 36 having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 38 in the key so that when the assembled pin means is disposed in the opening 38, the opening is essentially filled by the pin means.

An overhang 146 is formed at the back edge of the gap 132 by reason of the concave surface 78 terminating below the upper surface of the upper yoke base 40 thereby providing a bottom surface 148 against which the shoulder 102 on the upper end of the bottom pin portion 72 abuts when the retainer yokes are assembled. As noted before, these abutting elements cooperate with the mating notches on the ends of the wings to limit the movement of the two yokes toward each other and serve as stops for insuring proper fitting of the two yokes with each other.

A description of the procedure for assembling the yokes with a draft key will now be given to facilitate an understanding of the invention. Referring to the Figures with the draft key 20 in its proper position, the opening 38 thereof will be vertically oriented. The bottom yoke 34 of the retainer is first positioned. This is accomplished by inserting the bottom pin portion 72 into the opening 38 from the bottom side of the key, the wings 48 and 50 being oriented normally to the longitudinal dimension of the key so that the wings will underlie the bottom surface of the key and the wing ends 52 and 54 will partly encircle the side edges 150 and 152 of the key. The ledge 88 on the bottom pin portion, being of substantial size, is held in the approximate center of the opening as the bottom pin portion is fully inserted in the opening. Thereupon, the bottom pin portion is moved within the opening so that the outer surface 74 of the pin portion contacts and bears against the inner wall 84 of the key opening and partly fills that part of the opening most inward from the end 28 of the key. This movement of the pin portion positions the bottom surface 90 of the ledge 88 immediately above that part of the top surface 92 of the key immediately adjacent the edge of the opening 38. The bottom yoke is next allowed to move downwardly under its own weight whereupon the bottom surface 90 of the ledge 88 contacts and bears against the top surface 92 of the key and prevents the bottom pin portion from falling or otherwise withdrawing from its position within the opening. The preferred bottom yoke weighs about two pounds so as to be relatively stable once it is in position.

With the bottom yoke resting in position, the top yoke is placed in position to mate with the bottom yoke. This is accomplished by inserting the top pin portion 80 into that part of the opening 38 not occupied by the bottom pin portion 72, the wings 110 and 112 of the top yoke overlying the top surface 92 of the key and the ends 114 and 116 thereof partly encircling the side edges 150 and 152 of the key. As the top pin portion 80 is inserted, the concave surface 78 thereof engages the inner convex surface 76 of the bottom pin portion and the outer convex surface 142 of the top pin portion contacts and bears against the most outward portion 154 of the inner wall 84 of the opening 38, thereby combining with the bottom pin portion to define a right cylindrical pin means 36 which substantially fills the opening, as illustrated.

As the top yoke is moved into position, the notches 118 and 120 on the downturned ends thereof mate with the notches 56 and 58 on the upturned ends of the bottom yoke to cause the base and wing portions of the two yokes to fully encircle the key and define a generally planar bearing and wear surface 156 adapted to contact and bear against the sill wall 14. Because the pin portions are rigidly formed with the yokes, the base and wing elements which engage the sill wall keep the pin means 36 out of contact with the sill, hence keep the key from backing out of the slots through which it is inserted. The pin means is also at all times kept spaced from the sill by the base and wing portions of the retainer to thereby reduce the wear on the pin means due to frictional contact of the pin with the sill during train movement.

After the yokes are in position as described above, inasmuch as their respective pin portions cannot move apart because they are disposed within and substantially fill the opening in the key, the ledge 88 on the bottom pin portion is held in position over the top surface of the key so that the bottom yoke cannot be withdrawn nor can it fall away so long as the top yoke stays in position. The top yoke preferably weighs about 3 )6 pounds and is urged downwardly toward its desired position by gravity, therefore being self-locking in position. This top yoke, however, preferably is further locked in position by the locking lug 108. This lug preferably is heated and bent in a direction away from the sill and over the top surface 144 of the top yoke. Since the bottom yoke to which the lug 108 is attached cannot move out of the key opening so long as the top yoke is in position, and the lug aids in keeping the top yoke in the desired position, the retainer remains locked in position on the end of the key and prevents withdrawal of the key.

When the two yokes of the retainer have been assembled with a draft key, it will be noted that should either the top or bottom part rotate with respect to one another about an axis approximately coincident with the longitudinal axis of the pin means, there can occur jamming or wedging of the two pin portions in the opening in the key. Such wedged pin portions require undue time and effort to remove and can result in failure of the pin means, particularly if the applied torque is sufficiently great to shear one or both of the pin portions. Accordingly, the mating notches on the ends of the wings of the upper and bottom parts serve the further purpose of locking the two yokes to each other and preventing rotation of the two pin portions with respect to one another when assembled with a key.

Also importantly, the interlocked wings of the top and bottom yokes define a' bearing and wear surface 156 which is of substantial area and of a width which is larger than the width of the slot 26 in the sill wall 14 thereby assuming a large portion of the wear and tear on the retainer brought about by the substantially constant relative movement of the key with respect to the sill wall when the train is in motion and protecting the pin means against wear. Similarly, the wings, rather than the pin means, initially receive any shock forces exerted on the retainer when the key is bounced about during car coupling operations.

When the two retainer parts are assembled and the lug 108 is bent to prevent withdrawal ofthe top yoke as noted above, the retainer will not fail even though the lug breaks or otherwise is moved from its locking position. This feature of the invention arises by reason of the massiveness, e.g., 3 V2 pounds weight, of the top yoke which urges the top yoke downward and keeps the upper pin portion in the key opening even though there be considerable bounding or jostling of the retainer by reason of the train movement. As desired, additional locking lugs may be provided in other positions about the retainer, for example on one or more of the mating notches of the wings, or on the bottom end of the upper pin portion. Further, cotter pin means may be inserted through a transverse opening in the bottom end of the upper pin portion to aid in securing the top yoke against inadvertent withdrawal and resultant failure of the retainer.

While the present description has included specific examples and embodiments, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit it by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, it will be recognized that whereas the particular concave and convex surfaces referred to herein are illustrative, they could be readily altered as byemploying square cornered elongated pin portions adapted to mate with each other to define the pin means. Such a modification may also include adopting other than a cylindrical geometry for the opening 38 in the draft key. As a further matter, other configurations of the mating notches on the ends of the wing portions will be apparent to one skilled in the art when presented with the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coupling means for a railway car or the like including a draft key at least one end of which projects from a slot in a part of said coupling means and includes an opening extending transversely through said key, the improvement comprising retainer means ineluding a pair of yokes each of which includes an elongated pin portion, the respective pin portions of said yokes being adapted to be inserted in said opening in said key from opposite sides of said key in parallel mating relation to each other to define a pin means, each of said yokes partly encircling said key with their terminal ends interlocked to prevent rotation of said yokes with respect to each other about the axis of said pin means, said yokes defining s substantially planar surface adapted to contact and bear against that slotted part of the coupling means through which said key projects and prevent withdrawal of said key through said slot.

2. The retainer of claim 1 wherein said wing portions of each yoke encircle said key transversely thereof.

3. The retainer of claim 1 wherein one of said pin portions includes a convexo-convex cross section and the other of said pin portions includes a convexo-concave cross section, the respective dimensions of said cross sections being such that when said cross sections are combined they define a circular cross section.

4. The retainer of claim 3 wherein the cross section of each pin portion is constant over a substantial part of the pin portion length and said combined pin portions define a right cylindrical pin means.

5. The retainer of claim 3 wherein said opening in said key is vertically oriented and that yoke having a pin portion with a convexo-concave cross section is disposed on the top surface of said key and that yoke having a pin portion with a convexo-convex cross section is disposed on the bottom surface of said key.

6. The retainer of claim 5 wherein said top yoke weighs at least about three and one-half pounds.

7. The retainer of claim 5 and including ledge means projecting normally from the top end of the pin portion of the bottom yoke and adapted to engage the top surface of said key when said bottom pin portion is disposed in said opening in said key with one of the convex surfaces thereof in contact with the inner wall of said opening in said key to prevent withdrawal of said pin portion from said opening in said key.

8. The retainer of claim 1 and including bendable locking lug means disposed on one of said yokes and adapted to be bent over a part of the other of said yokes and maintain'said yokes assembled.

9. A retainer for the draft key of a railway car or the like coupling means wherein at least one end of said key projects from an opening in a part of said coupling means and includes a vertically oriented opening in said key end comprising a first retainer element including a base portion,

elongated wing portions extending laterally from said base portions on opposite sides thereof,

upturned ends on said wing portions, each of said ends being notched to provide a wall portion oriented generally parallel to the plane containing said wing portions,

a bottom pin portion rigidly secured to said base portion and extending therefrom in a direction normal to the longitudinal dimension of said wing portions, said pin portion having a geometry adapted to be received in and partly fill said key opening,

said pin portion including ledge means disposed on the unattached end thereof and projecting normally therefrom, a second retainer element adapted to mate with said first retainer element including a base portion, elongated wing portions extending laterally from said base portions on opposite sides thereof,

downturned ends on said wing portions, each of said ends being notched to provide a wall portion oriented generally parallel to the plane containing said wing portions, the orientation of said notches on the ends of said wing portions of said first and second retainer elements being oriented so that their respective wall portions face each other when said retainer elements are assembled and prevent rotational movement of said retainer elements with respect to each other about an axis generally coincident with the vertical centerline of said opening in said key,

a top pin portion rigidly secured to said base portion and extending therefrom in a direction normal to the longitudinal dimension of said wing portions and generally parallel to the downturned ends of said wing portions, said top and bottom pin portions having respective geometries of constant cross section and which when placed in longitudinal abutting, relation define a pin means which substantially fills said opening in said key when said pin portions are both inserted in said opening whereby said retainer is held in position on said end of said key to prevent withdrawal of said key.

10. A retainer for the draft key of a railway car or the like coupling means wherein at least one end of said key projects from an opening in a part of said coupling means and includes an opening extending transversely through said key comprising a first yoke including an elongated first pin portion adapted to be inserted in and fill a portion of said opening in said key, and first wing portions extending in a direction normal to said first pin portion adapted to partly encircle said key when said first pin portion is inserted in said opening in said key, said first pin portion having ledge means on its unattached end extending generally normally thereto and adapted to bear against a surface of said key when said first pin portion is inserted in said opening in said key and aligned therewith so as to prevent withdrawal of said first pin portion from said opening in said key,

a second yoke including an elongated second pin portion adapted to be inserted in and fill that portion of said opening in said key which remains unfilled by said first pin portion, and second wing portion extending in a direction normal to said second pin portion adapted to encircle that part of the circumference of said key which is not circled by said first wing portions, the terminal ends of said first and second wing portions being interlocked so as to prevent rotational movement of said first and second yokes with respect to each other about an axis generally coincident with the centerline of said opening in said key, whereby when said first and second pin portions are disposed in said opening, said ledge means on said first pin portion is prevented from disengaging said key and said first yoke is locked by the presence of said second pin portion in said opening.

a: w s s a: 

1. In a coupling means for a railway car or the like including a draft key at least one end of which projects from a slot in a part of said coupling means and includes an opening extending transversely through said key, the improvement comprising retainer means including a pair of yokes each of which includes an elongated pin portion, the respective pin portions of said yokes being adapted to be inserted in said opening in said key from opposite sides of said key in parallel mating relation to each other to define a pin means, each of said yokes partly encircling said key with their terminal ends interlocked to prevent rotation of said yokes with respect to each other about the axis of said pin means, said yokes defining s substantially planar surface adapted to contact and bear against that slotted part of the coupling means through which said key projects and prevent withdrawal of said key through said slot.
 2. The retainer of claim 1 wherein said wing portions of each yoke encircle said key transversely thereof.
 3. The retainer of claim 1 wherein one of said pin portions includes a convexo-convex cross section and the other of said pin portions includes a convexo-concave cross section, the respective dimensions of said cross sections being such that when said cross sections are combined they define a circular cross section.
 4. The retainer of claim 3 wherein the cross section of each pin portion is constant over a substantial part of the pin portion length and said combined pin portions define a right cylindrical pin means.
 5. The retainer of claim 3 wherein said opening in said key is vertically oriented and that yoke having a pin portion with a convexo-concave cross section is disposed on the top surface of said key and that yoke having a pin portion with a convexo-convex cross section is disposed on the bottom surface of said key.
 6. The retainer of claim 5 wherein said top yoke weighs at least about three and one-half pounds.
 7. The retainer of claim 5 and including ledge means projecting normally from the top end of the pin portion of the bottom yoke and adapted to engage the top surface of said key when said bottom pin portion is disposed in said opening in said key with one of the convex surfaces thereof in contact with the inner wall of said opening in said key to prevent withdrawal of said pin portion from said opening in said key.
 8. The retainer of claim 1 and including bendable locking lug means disposed on one of said yokes and adapted to be bent over a part of the other of said yokes and maintain said yokes assembled.
 9. A retainer for the draft key of a railway car or the like coupling means wherein at least one end of said key projects from an opening in a part of said coupling means and includes a vertically oriented opening in said key end comprising a first retainer element including a base portion, elongated wing portions extending lateraLly from said base portions on opposite sides thereof, upturned ends on said wing portions, each of said ends being notched to provide a wall portion oriented generally parallel to the plane containing said wing portions, a bottom pin portion rigidly secured to said base portion and extending therefrom in a direction normal to the longitudinal dimension of said wing portions, said pin portion having a geometry adapted to be received in and partly fill said key opening, said pin portion including ledge means disposed on the unattached end thereof and projecting normally therefrom, a second retainer element adapted to mate with said first retainer element including a base portion, elongated wing portions extending laterally from said base portions on opposite sides thereof, downturned ends on said wing portions, each of said ends being notched to provide a wall portion oriented generally parallel to the plane containing said wing portions, the orientation of said notches on the ends of said wing portions of said first and second retainer elements being oriented so that their respective wall portions face each other when said retainer elements are assembled and prevent rotational movement of said retainer elements with respect to each other about an axis generally coincident with the vertical centerline of said opening in said key, a top pin portion rigidly secured to said base portion and extending therefrom in a direction normal to the longitudinal dimension of said wing portions and generally parallel to the downturned ends of said wing portions, said top and bottom pin portions having respective geometries of constant cross section and which when placed in longitudinal abutting relation define a pin means which substantially fills said opening in said key when said pin portions are both inserted in said opening whereby said retainer is held in position on said end of said key to prevent withdrawal of said key.
 10. A retainer for the draft key of a railway car or the like coupling means wherein at least one end of said key projects from an opening in a part of said coupling means and includes an opening extending transversely through said key comprising a first yoke including an elongated first pin portion adapted to be inserted in and fill a portion of said opening in said key, and first wing portions extending in a direction normal to said first pin portion adapted to partly encircle said key when said first pin portion is inserted in said opening in said key, said first pin portion having ledge means on its unattached end extending generally normally thereto and adapted to bear against a surface of said key when said first pin portion is inserted in said opening in said key and aligned therewith so as to prevent withdrawal of said first pin portion from said opening in said key, a second yoke including an elongated second pin portion adapted to be inserted in and fill that portion of said opening in said key which remains unfilled by said first pin portion, and second wing portion extending in a direction normal to said second pin portion adapted to encircle that part of the circumference of said key which is not circled by said first wing portions, the terminal ends of said first and second wing portions being interlocked so as to prevent rotational movement of said first and second yokes with respect to each other about an axis generally coincident with the centerline of said opening in said key, whereby when said first and second pin portions are disposed in said opening, said ledge means on said first pin portion is prevented from disengaging said key and said first yoke is locked by the presence of said second pin portion in said opening. 